More stories about Jelf

Insurers, brokers play football to raise funds for military patients

Several football enthusiasts from local insurance and brokerage firms will participate in a charity football game to raise funds for military patients and their families.

The team of insurance professionals from across the Midlands will play against the Lichfield Wolves at The Molineux this Friday, May 20.

The insurance team is made up of 17 keen footballers from local companies including LV= Broker, Arthur J. Gallagher, Idex, Adler Insurance Brokers and Jelf.

The insurers and brokers hope to raise over £500 for QEHB Charity’s Fisher House, which aims to become a “home away from home” for military patients and their families at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Fisher House was selected as the game’s beneficiary after team manager Mark Hands, LV= Broker head of trading (north), heard the story of former soldier Dave Watson.

Watson is a former soldier who lost both legs and an arm in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2010. Fisher House supported him and his family during his recovery and rehabilitation.

“Dave is an inspirational character who has shown great bravery and resilience in the face of adversity, so it's a privilege for the local insurance community to be able to give something back to the charity that helped him when he needed it most,” Hands said.

“We sincerely hope that our donation can help Fisher House keep up the amazing support it gives injured service personnel and their families,” he added.

Fisher House has been home to over 1,700 UK military families and friends and it continues to see an increase in the people needing the facility, according to Justine Davy, QEHB Charity head of fundraising.

Davy said Fisher House provides free accommodation to the families of injured and ill military personnel during their treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.